Thursday, October 14, 2010

Thoughts on the CWG closing ceremony (even as it continues to continue)

Why are they singing English songs?

Why is Shiamak singing at all?

Why did they resurrect the ghost of Usha Uthup?

Why does Kalmadi give such long speeches?

At least they aren't messing around with intricate classical dance moves that no one can see from the stands...

...or large laser-generated outlines of people doing yoga

Maybe there's a level of self-understanding that set in post-opening ceremony that made them say, look, this is us. We are Indians, and we are best at large-scale synchronised dances set to a medley of random film songs. All that talk about showcasing culture and heritage was a way to spend the ginormously inflated budgets that we were given to...well, to do exactly those things. But that's the past. Today, we sing, we dance, we rationalise